The Dengue Panorama bulletin, released this Thursday (25) by the State Department of Health of Rio de Janeiro (SES-RJ), shows stabilization of the epidemiological scenario, with the state at level 2 of the agency’s contingency plan for the second consecutive week. Level 2 indicates that the number of probable cases is between five and ten times above the maximum limit expected for this time of year.
Despite the stable scenario, the North Fluminense and Serrana regions are still a concern and are at level 3, when the number of probable cases is ten times or more above the maximum limit. Furthermore, in these regions, there was an increase in the occupancy rate of state clinical beds and the growth trend continues.
New cases
According to the bulletin, the number of new probable dengue cases fell by almost 40% in the state, from 15,761 in week 12 (from March 17 to 23) to 9,508 in week 14 (from March 31 to April 6) . Based on the data presented by the technicians, SES-RJ decided to maintain the epidemic decree and will continue analyzing the situation for at least another two weeks.
The Secretariat also extended for another 30 days the operation of the Health Emergency Committee (COEs) specific to dengue, which brings together technicians from various state health sectors and also from the Health Foundation.
The Secretary of Health, Claudia Mello, analyzed that even with stability in the epidemiological scenario, the indicators still show that it is necessary to maintain full attention. “Therefore, it is important to reinforce measures to control mosquito outbreaks, as well as to observe symptoms and clinical management of these patients. We still have numbers above expectations for the moment, and the North and Serrana regions, which were the last to show a worsening of the scenario, continue to see an upward trend in cases,” she highlighted.
The Dengue Panorama uses an epidemiological calculation model known as ‘nowcasting’, which takes into account the delay in inserting data into the surveillance system. Based on the model, SES-RJ estimates that 13,392 cases must still be reported in the period considered in the survey.
Suspected cases
The bulletin also reveals that consultations for suspected cases of the disease in state UPAs fell by 20% between epidemiological weeks 13 and 14, with 8,044 and 6,400 consultations respectively, a number below the average observed since the beginning of the year.
The number of bed requests for patients with an initial diagnosis of dengue (CID A90) showed a decrease in the last four observed weeks (SE 11 to 14) in the State Regulation System of the State of Rio de Janeiro (SER). The age group of 10 to 15 years, which showed a reduction in hospitalizations in the previous edition of the survey, maintained the scenario of a decrease in requests for beds in this edition.
As of this Thursday (25), 220,548 probable cases of dengue fever and 126 confirmed deaths had been recorded across the state of Rio de Janeiro. The accumulated incidence rate is 1,363 cases per 100,000 inhabitants.
